Vertical non-volatile memory device and method of fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A vertical non-volatile memory device is structured/fabricated to include a substrate, groups of memory cell strings each having a plurality of memory transistors distributed vertically so that the memory throughout multiple layers on the substrate, integrated word lines coupled to sets of the memory transistors, respectively, and stacks of word select lines. The memory transistors of each set are those transistors, of one group of the memory cell strings, which are disposed in the same layer above the substrate. The word select lines are respectively connected to the integrated word lines.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0067009, filed on Jul. 22, 2009, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office.

BACKGROUND

The inventive concept relates to non-volatile memory devices and tomethods of fabricating the same. More particularly, the inventiveconcept relates to vertical non-volatile memory devices includingvertical strings of transistors and multiple layers of metal wiring, andto methods of fabricating the same.

The semiconductor industry employs a variety of techniques aimed atmaximizing the integration of conventional planar non-volatile memorydevices. These techniques include designing the structure of a celltransistor so that two or more pieces of data can be stored in a singlecell of the device. Despite these techniques, the degree to which theintegration of a conventional planar flash memory device can beincreased is limited due to the fact that all of the wiring layers arelocated in a single plane (layer).

Therefore, vertical memory devices are being developed to provide higherdegrees of integration. In a vertical memory device, a plurality of celltransistors of a chip are arrayed in a vertical direction

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided avertical non-volatile memory device including a substrate, a pluralityof groups of memory cell strings on the substrate wherein each of thememory cell strings has a plurality of memory transistors distributed ina vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of thesubstrate, integrated word lines coupled to sets of the memorytransistors, respectively, and stacks of layer of word select lines onthe substrate and wherein the word select lines are connected to theintegrated word lines, respectively. A respective array of the memorytransistors is disposed on each of several layers above the substrate.The memory transistors of each of the sets, to which a respectiveintegrated word line is coupled, are those memory transistors whichconstitute a respective one of the groups of the memory cell strings andwhich are disposed within the same layer above the substrate.

According to another aspect of the inventive concept there is provided avertical non-volatile memory device including a substrate, memory cellstrings disposed in a matrix of n rows by m columns on a first region ofthe substrate, integrated word lines coupled to sets of the memorytransistors, respectively, and word select lines connected to theintegrated word lines, respectively. Each of the memory cell strings hasa number k of memory transistors distributed in a vertical directionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. The memorytransistors of the memory cell strings are disposed such that arespective array of the memory transistors is disposed on each of knumbers of layers above the substrate. The memory transistors of each ofthe sets, to which a respective integrated word line is coupled, isdisposed in a matrix of the n rows by ‘a’ columns in the first region ofthe substrate. The word select lines include a plurality of first wordselect lines disposed on a second region of the substrate, and aplurality of second word select lines disposed on a third region of thesubstrate. Each of the first word select lines is connected to arespective one of the integrated word lines on the second region of thesubstrate, and the first word select lines are disposed in a matrix of kcolumns by j files. Each of the second word select lines is connected toa respective one of the integrated word lines on the third region of thesubstrate, and the second word select lines are also disposed in amatrix of k columns by j files. With respect to the “rows”, “columns”and “files”, the rows each extend in a direction substantially parallelto the plane of the substrate, the columns each extend in anotherdirection substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate, and thefiles are the number of layers stacked in the vertical directionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. Also, thesecond region of the substrate extends from one side of the first regionin a direction parallel to the columns, and the third region of thesubstrate extends from the other side of the first region in a directionparallel to the columns such that the second and third regions aresymmetrical about the first region. Furthermore, n, m, k, and j denotenatural numbers equal to or greater than 2, respectively, ‘a’ denotes anatural number, j is smaller than k, and ‘a’ is smaller than each of kand m

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The inventive concept will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments thereof taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic wiring diagram of an embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device according to the inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is schematic plan view of the embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic wiring diagram of another embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device according to the inventive concept;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of one layer of the embodiment of avertical non-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is schematic plan view of the embodiment of the verticalnon-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of avertical non-volatile memory device according to the inventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of one layer of the embodiment of avertical non-volatile memory device illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the vertical non-volatile memorydevice the embodiment of the vertical non-volatile memory deviceillustrated in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are schematic plan views of a vertical non-volatilememory device according to other embodiments of the inventive concept;

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of a vertical non-volatile memorydevice according to another embodiment of the inventive concept;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are schematic plan views of a vertical non-volatilememory device according to other embodiments of the inventive concept;

FIGS. 16A through 16G are cross-sectional views of intermediate memorydevice structures, and together illustrate an embodiment of a method offabricating a vertical non-volatile memory device according to theinventive concept; and

FIGS. 17A through 17D are cross-sectional views of intermediate memorydevice structures, and together illustrate another embodiment of amethod of fabricating a vertical non-volatile memory device according tothe inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the inventive concept will now be described more fullywith reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals areused to denote like elements throughout. Moreover, the sizes, lengthsand shapes of elements, etc. may be exaggerated in the drawings forclarity. Thus, the sizes, lengths and shapes of elements, etc. in actualembodiments of the inventive concept may deviate from those shown in thedrawings due, for example, to manufacturing techniques and tolerances.In addition, although all of the elements of every embodiment of avertical non-volatile memory device disclosed herein may not be shown inany one particular drawing, like elements may be found in drawingsillustrating other embodiments and therefore, reference may be made tothose drawings to gain a complete understanding of each and everyembodiment disclosed herein.

Also, throughout the specification, the description of features being“arrayed” in a particular direction is used to refer to the number ofrows, columns or layers (files) in the array of that feature. Thus, forexample, when the specification describes that k (e.g., k=4) lines arearrayed in a Z-axis direction, such a description refers to the factthat there are k (four, for example) files of lines in the Z-axisdirection. Furthermore, the term stack may be used to refer to acollection of elements, e.g., integrated word lines, in which at leastsubstantial portions of the elements are stacked one atop the other.

A first embodiment of a vertical non-volatile memory device according tothe inventive concept will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, the vertical non-volatile memory device 10includes a substrate 100, a plurality of memory cell strings 140, aplurality of integrated word lines 150, a plurality of bit lines 180, aplurality of first connect contacts 250, and a plurality of word selectlines 300.

The memory cell strings 140 are arrayed in a horizontal matrix of n rowsby m columns (e.g., 2 rows×4 columns) and each string 140 extendsvertically in a direction Z (hereinafter, referred to as the “Z-axis”direction) on the substrate 100. Note, the spatially relative term“vertical” or “vertically” is used herein to refer to a direction thatis generally perpendicular to the plane of the substrate 100, whereasthe term “horizontal” or “horizontally” is used to refer to a directionthat is generally parallel to the plane of the substrate 100.

The memory cell strings 140 may respectively include k (e.g., k=4)memory transistors 110, a drain select transistor 120, and a sourceselect transistor 130. For example, the memory cell strings 140 mayinclude memory transistors 110 having a vertical NAND structure. Thememory cell strings 140 disposed along a respective row (hereinafterreferred to as the “X-axis” direction) are connected to each otherthrough a respective bit line 180. Also, the memory cell strings 140 ineach row may be divided into groups, for example, first and secondmemory cell string groups GS1 and GS2. Thus, the first and second memorycell string groups GS1 and GS2 are ordered in the X-axis direction.

The integrated word lines 150 are respectively disposed on a number k(e.g., k=4) of layers in which the memory transistors 110 in the memorycell strings 140 are disposed. With respect to the integrated word lines150, i (e.g., i=2) integrated word lines 150 are arrayed in the X-axisdirection in each layer, and k (e.g., k=4) integrated word lines 150 arearrayed in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, stacks of integratedword lines 150 corresponding in number to the number of cell stringgroups (e.g., 2) are disposed on the substrate 100, and a respectiveintegrated word line 150 is coupled to the set 155 of memory transistors110 which are disposed in the same layer and make up a respective one ofthe memory cell string groups GS1 or GS2. That is, each of theintegrated word lines 150 is coupled to all (the set) of the memorytransistors 155 in a particular layer which are part of either the firstmemory cell string group GS1 or the second memory cell string group GS2.Also, the memory transistors 110 of each set 155 are arrayed a matrix ofn rows by a columns (e.g., 2 rows×2 columns). Thus, in this particularexample, each integrated word line 150 is coupled to four respectivememory transistors 110. Furthermore, the integrated word lines 150include word lines 200 which each extend between memory transistors 110in a Y-axis direction (a horizontal direction at an angle, e.g., a rightangle, to the X-axis direction), and array lines 230 which each extendbetween memory transistors 110 in the X-axis direction. Thus, inaddition, for each array of memory transistors 110 on a respective layerabove the substrate 100, there are a plurality of integrated word lines150 (e.g., 2) electrically isolated from each other in the layer andconnected to sets (e.g., 4 each) of the memory transistors 110,respectively.

Each word select line 300 is connected to the integrated word line 150coupled to a respective set 155 of the memory transistors 110. Inparticular, the word select lines 300 and respective ones of theintegrated word lines 150 are connected to each other by the firstconnect contacts 250, respectively. The first connect contacts 250 maybe via plugs, redistribution lines (RDLs), or the like. With furtherrespect to the word select lines 300, k (e.g., k=4) word select lines300 are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and i (e.g., i=2) word selectlines 300 are arrayed in the Z-axis direction. That is, i (e.g., i=2)layers each of which has a plurality k (e.g., k=4) of coplanar wordselect lines 300 are disposed on the substrate 100.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show this example in which the integrated word lines 150are arranged in a 2×4 matrix in the X-axis direction and the Z-axisdirection on the substrate 100. Although not shown, insulation isdisposed between the integrated word lines 150 to prevent the integratedword lines 150 from being electrically conductively connected to eachother, i.e., so as to electrically isolate the integrated word lines 150from one another. In particular, interlayer insulation layers may bedisposed on the substrate between the layers, respectively.

As mentioned above, the integrated word lines 150 are connected to theword select lines 300 through the first connect contacts 250. In thisrespect, the integrated word lines 150 may have the form of a set ofstairs (in the Z-axis direction) in order to facilitate their electricalconnection to the word select lines 300. In this case, the first connectcontacts 250 may be via plugs.

FIGS. 2 and 3 thus show the one-to-one connection between the wordselect lines 300 and the integrated word lines 150 and the stacking ofthe word select lines 300 in the Z-axis direction according to an aspectof the inventive concept. As a result, in this example, each of the wordselect lines 300 is connected to 2 word lines 200 (FIG. 1) to which aprogram voltage is applied and thus, the number of programs (NOP) isalso 2. Therefore, the number of programs (NOP) is less than would bethe case if the word select lines 300 having the same pitch weredisposed on a single layer. In that case, only four of the word selectlines 300 could be arranged in the X-axis direction, each of the wordselect lines 300 would be connected to four word lines 200, and the NOPwould thus be 4. Accordingly, the arrangement of the word select lines300 according to the inventive concept allows the NOP to be minimized sothat a highly reliable vertical non-volatile memory device is obtained.

FIG. 4 illustrates the layout of another embodiment of a verticalnon-volatile memory device according to the inventive concept. Referringto FIG. 4, the vertical non-volatile memory device 20 includes asubstrate 100, memory cell strings 140, respective word lines 200 a and200 b, second connect contacts 210 a and 210 b, array lines 230, firstconnect contacts 250, and word select lines 300. The memory cell strings140 include an array of memory transistors 156 in each layer. Forexample, a 4×2 array of the memory transistors is provided in the X-axisand Y-axis directions. The first and second connect contacts 210, 210 band 250 may be via plugs, RDLs, or the like.

With respect to the word lines 200 a and 200 b, m (e.g., m=4) word lines200 a and 200 b are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=4)word lines 200 a and 200 b are arrayed in the Z-axis direction. Also,the word lines 200 a and 200 b are respectively coupled to n (e.g., n=2)memory transistors 156 arrayed in the Y-axis direction. Morespecifically, each of the word lines 200 a and 200 b is coupled to therespective memory transistors 156 disposed in the same column within alayer. The word lines 200 a and 200 b are also divided into i (e.g.,i=2) groups in the X-axis direction. In this example, therefore, theword lines 200 a and 200 b are divided into first and second word linegroups GW1 and GW2 in the X-axis direction.

With respect to the array lines 230, i (e.g., i=2) array lines 230 arearrayed in the X-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=4) array lines 230 arearrayed in the Y-axis direction. The array lines 230 are respectivelyconnected to a number a (e.g., a=2) of the respective word lines 200 aand 200 b arrayed in the X-axis direction within the same layer. Thearray lines 230 and the respective word lines 200 a and 200 b areconnected to each other via the second connect contacts 210 a and 210 b.Also, in this example, each array line 230 is respectively connected tothe respective word lines 200 a and 200 b which are in the samerespective word line group GW1 or GW2.

With respect to the word select lines 300, k (e.g., k=4) word selectlines 300 are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and i (e.g., i=2) wordselect lines 300 are arrayed in the Z-axis direction. The word selectlines 300 are connected to the array lines 230, respectively. The wordselect lines 300 and the array lines 230 may be connected to each othervia the first connect contacts 250.

Reference will now be made to the schematic perspective and plan viewsof FIGS. 5 through 7.

FIGS. 5 through 7 show how the respective word lines 200 a and 200 b ofthe vertical non-volatile memory device 20 are arrayed in a 4×4 matrixin the X-axis and Z-axis directions on the substrate 100. Although notshown, insulation is disposed between the respective word lines 200 aand 200 b in order to prevent the respective word lines 200 a and 200 bfrom being electrically conductively coupled to each other. FIG. 5 alsoshows how each integrated word line is made up of a respective pair ofword lines 200 a, 200 b, an array line 230, and second connect contacts210 a, 210 b connecting the array line 230 to the word lines 210 a, 210b, respectively. In this example, as well, with the word lines 200 a and200 b arrayed as they are in the Z-axis direction, and the array lines230 arrayed as they are in the X-axis direction, it can be consideredthat two stacks of integrated word lines are disposed on the substrate.

Each of the array lines 230 is respectively connected to some of therespective word lines 200 a and 200 b. Also, the respective word lines200 a and 200 b are stacked in the form of stairs in order to facilitatethe electrical connection between the array lines 230 and the word lines200 a and 200 b. In this case, the second connect contacts 210 a and 210b may be via plugs.

Another embodiment of a vertical non-volatile memory device according tothe inventive concept will be described with reference to FIGS. 8through 10.

The vertical non-volatile memory device 30 includes a substrate 100, aplurality of memory cell strings (not shown) on the substrate 100,respective word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d, second connectcontacts 210 a, 210 b, 201 c, and 210 d, array lines 230, first connectcontacts 250, and word select lines 300.

The memory cell strings are arrayed in a matrix of n rows by m columns(e.g., m=8) and each memory cell string extends in the Z-axis direction(i.e., has a number of memory transistors arrayed in the Z-axisdirection). The memory cell strings may respectively include k (e.g.,k=8) memory transistors (not shown), a drain select transistor (notshown), and a source select transistor (not shown). The memory cellstrings of each set thereof arrayed in the X-axis direction areconnected to each other by a respective bit line (not shown).

With respect to the word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d, m (e.g.,m=8) respective word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d are arrayed inthe X-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=8) respective word lines 200 a, 200b, 200 c, and 200 d are arrayed in the Z-axis direction. The word lines200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d are disposed in i (e.g., i=2) groups ineach of the k (e.g., k=8) layers. Also, each of the word lines 200 a,200 b, 200 c, and 200 d is connected to n memory transistors (not shown)arrayed in the Y-axis direction.

With respect to the array lines 230, i (e.g., i=2) array lines 230 arearrayed in the X-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=8) array lines 230 arearrayed in the Y-axis direction. The array lines 230 are respectivelycoupled to the groups of respective word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and200 d, and each array line 230 is respectively connected to those wordlines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d arrayed in the group in the X-axisdirection. Thus, each of the array lines 230 is connected to a number a(e.g., a=4) of word lines. The array lines 230 and the respective wordlines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d are connected to each other by thesecond connect contacts 210 a, 210 b, 201 c, and 210 d. The secondconnect contacts 210 a, 210 b, 201 c, and 210 d may be via plugs, RDLs,or the like.

With respect to the word select lines 300, k (e.g., k=8) word selectlines 300 are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and i (e.g., i=2) wordselect lines 300 are arrayed in the Z-axis direction. The word selectlines 300 are respectively coupled to the array lines 230. In thisrespect, the word select lines 300 and the array lines 230 are connectedto each other by the first connect contacts 250. The first contacts 250may be via plugs, RDLs, or the like.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical non-volatilememory device 40 according to the inventive concept.

The vertical non-volatile memory device 40 includes a substrate 100having first 410, second 420 and third 430 regions, memory cell strings140, word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d, second connect contacts210 a, 210 b, 201 c, and 210 d, a plurality of first array lines 230 a,a plurality of second array lines 230 b, a plurality of first wordselect lines 300 a, and a plurality of second word select lines 300 b.

The memory cell strings 140 are arrayed in a matrix of n rows by mcolumns (e.g., m=8) on the first region 410 of the substrate 100, andeach of the memory cell strings 140 extends in the Z-axis direction onthe substrate 100. The memory cell strings 140 may respectively includek (e.g., k=8) memory transistors (not shown), a drain select transistor(not shown), and a source select transistor (not shown). The memory cellstrings 140 of each set thereof distributed in the X-axis direction areconnected to each other by a respective bit line (not shown).

With respect to the respective word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200d, m (e.g., m=8) respective word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 dare arrayed in the X-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=8) respective wordlines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d are arrayed in the Z-axisdirection. Each of the word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d extendsover the first through third regions 410 through 430 of the substrate100 in the Y-axis direction. Also, each of the word lines 200 a, 200 b,200 c, and 200 d is coupled to n memory transistors (not shown)distributed in the Y-axis direction within a respective one of the k(e.g., k=8) layers.

With respect to the first array lines 230 a disposed in the secondregion 420, j (e.g., j=2) first array lines 230 a are arrayed in theX-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=8) first array lines 230 a are arrayedin the Y-axis direction. The first array lines 230 a are respectivelycoupled to a number a (e.g., a=2) of the respective word lines, namely,word lines 200 a and 200 b, that are adjacent one another in the X-axisdirection.

With respect to the second array lines 230 b disposed in the thirdregion 430, j (e.g., j=2) second array lines 230 b are arrayed in theX-axis direction, and k (e.g., k=8) second array lines 230 b are arrayedin the Y-axis direction. The second array lines 230 b are respectivelycoupled to a number a (e.g., a=2) of the respective word lines, namely,word lines 200 c and 200 d, that are adjacent one another in the X-axisdirection but which are offset in the X-axis direction from the wordlines 200 a and 200 b connected by the first array lines 230 a on thesecond region 420 of the substrate 100.

The first and second array lines 230 a and 230 b and the respective wordlines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c, and 200 d are connected to each other by thesecond connect contacts 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, and 210 d. The secondcontacts 210 a, 210 b, 210 c and 210 d may be via plugs, RDLs, or thelike. In this respect, the k (e.g., k=8) word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c,or 200 d may have the form of stairs (with steps extending from thefirst region 410 towards each of the second and third regions 420 and430) to facilitate their electrical connection with array lines 230 aand 230 b.

With respect to the first word select lines 300 a, k (e.g., k=8) firstword select lines 300 a are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and j(e.g., j=2) first word select lines 300 a are arrayed in the Z-axisdirection. The first word select lines 300 a are respectively coupled tothe first array lines 230 a.

With respect to the second word select lines 300 b, k (e.g., k=8) secondword select lines 300 b are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and j(e.g., j=2) second word select lines 300 b are arrayed in the Z-axisdirection. The second word select lines 300 b are respectively coupledto the second array lines 230 b.

The first and second word select lines 300 a and 300 b and the first andsecond array lines 230 a and 230 b are connected to each other by thefirst connect contacts 250 a and 250 b. The first contacts 250 a and 250b may be via plugs, RDLs, or the like.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of a vertical non-volatile memorydevice 50 according to the inventive concept. This embodiment is similarto the embodiment of the vertical non-volatile memory device 40 shown inFIGS. 11 and 12 except that a plurality of integrated word lines 150replace the word lines 200 a, 200 b, 200 c and 200 d, the second connectcontacts 210 a, 210 b, 210 c and 210 d, and the first and second arraylines 230 a and 230 b. Thus, the descriptions of features/aspects of thevertical non-volatile memory device 50 which are similar to those of thevertical non-volatile memory device 40 will not be repeated here.

With respect to the integrated word lines 150, 2*j (e.g., 2*j=4)integrated word lines 150 are arrayed in the X-axis direction, and k(e.g., k=8) integrated word lines 150 are arrayed in the Z-axisdirection. The integrated word lines 150 each extend on the firstthrough third regions 410 through 430 of the substrate 100 in the Y-axisdirection. Also, the integrated word lines 150 are respectively disposedon a number k (e.g., k=8) of layers in which memory cells (not shown) ofthe memory cell strings 140 are disposed. Each of the integrated wordlines 150 is respectively coupled to a set of memory transistors (notshown) arrayed in a matrix of n rows by a columns (e.g., a=2) in thesame layer on the substrate 100. Although not shown, interlayerinsulation is disposed between the integrated word lines 150 in order toprevent the integrated word lines 150 from being electricallyconductively connected to each other.

With respect to the first word select lines 300 a disposed in the secondregion 420, k (e.g., k=8) first word select lines 300 a are arrayed inthe X-axis direction and j (e.g., j=2) first word select lines 300 a arearrayed in the Z-axis direction. The first word select lines 300 a arecoupled to respective ones of the integrated word lines 150 over thesecond region 420 of the substrate.

With respect to the second word select lines 300 b disposed in the thirdregion 430, k (e.g., k=8) second word select lines 300 b are arrayed inthe X-axis direction and j (e.g., j=2) second word select lines 300 bare arrayed in the Z-axis direction. The second word select lines 300 bare coupled to respective ones of the integrated word lines 150 over thethird region 430 of the substrate 100.

The first and second word select lines 300 a and 300 b are connected tothe respective ones of the integrated word lines 150 by first connectcontacts 250 a and 250 b. In this respect, the k (e.g., k=8) integratedword lines 150, of each set thereof distributed in the Z-axis direction,may be configured as stairs (with steps extending from the first region410 towards each of the second and third regions 420 and 430) tofacilitate their electrical connection to the first and second wordselect lines 300 a and 300 b. In this case, the first connect contacts250 a and 250 b may be via plugs.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical non-volatilememory device according to of the inventive concept. The verticalnon-volatile memory device 60 is similar to the embodiment of thevertical non-volatile memory device 40 described with reference to FIGS.11 and 12 except with respect to the pattern of connections between thearray lines and the word lines, and between the word select lines andthe array lines. Thus, the descriptions of the other features/aspects ofthe vertical non-volatile memory device 60 which are the same as thoseof the vertical non-volatile memory device 40 will not be repeated here.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, each of the first array lines 230 adisposed on the second region 420 is connected to a respective pair ofthe word lines that are nonadjacent in the X-axis direction, namely theword lines 200 a and 200 c. Likewise, each of the second array lines 230b disposed on the third region 430 is connected to a respective pair ofthe word lines that are nonadjacent in the X-axis direction, namely wordlines 200 b and 200 d.

The first array lines 230 a and the second array lines 230 b and therespective word lines 200 a and 200 c or 200 b and 200 d are connectedto each other via the second connect contacts 210 a and 210 c or 210 band 210 d. The second connect contacts 210 a and 210 c or 210 b and 210d may be via plugs, RDLs, or the like.

FIGS. 16A through 16G illustrate a method of fabricating a verticalnon-volatile memory device according to the inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 16A, respective word lines 200 and interlayerinsulation layers 205 are alternately formed one atop the other in theZ-axis direction on a substrate (not shown). The respective word lines200 may be shorter and shorter so as to collectively have the form ofstairs, and the interlayer insulation layers 205 are integrated so as toform a block of (electrical) interlayer insulation.

Referring to FIG. 16B, the interlayer insulation is patterned to formopenings therein communicating with the word lines 200, respectively.The openings are filled to form second connect contacts 210 connected tothe respective word lines 200, respectively. The forming of openings ina layer and the filling of the openings with conductive material iscarried out by a “patterning” process that is well known, per se, in theart. For example, such a patterning process entails etching (the etchingof a layer to form an opening), deposition (the deposition of materialto fill the opening), and planarization (the planarizing of theresulting structure) processes.

Referring to FIG. 16C, lower layer array lines 231 and first temporalconnect contacts 229 are formed on upper portions of the second connectcontacts 210, respectively, by a patterning process. As a result, lowerlayers 2 of the word lines 200 are connected to the lower layer arraylines 231 through one set of the second connect contacts 210. Upperlayers 1 of the word lines 200 are connected to the first temporalconnect contacts 229 through another set of the second connect contacts210.

Referring to FIG. 16D, lower layer first connect contacts 251 are formedon the upper portions of the lower layer array lines 231 by a patterningprocess, and upper layer array lines 232 are formed on the upperportions of the first temporal connect contacts 229.

Referring to FIG. 16E, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure, and lower layer word select lines 301are formed on the upper portions of the lower layer first connectcontacts 251 by a patterning process. Note, the upper right hand portionof this figure is exaggerated slightly to show perspective and therebyillustrate the lower word select lines 301 which are formedsubstantially in the same interlayer insulation layer 205.

Referring to FIG. 16F, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure, and upper layer first connect contacts252 are formed on upper portions of the upper layer array lines 232 by apatterning process.

Referring to FIG. 16G, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure, and upper layer word select lines 302are formed on upper portions of the upper layer first connect contacts252 by a patterning process.

FIGS. 17A through 17D illustrate another embodiment of a method offabricating a vertical non-volatile memory device according to theinventive concept. The method is similar to that described withreference to FIGS. 16A through 16G and thus, only the major differencesbetween the methods will be described.

Referring to FIG. 17A, the method begins similarly to that shown in anddescribed with reference to FIGS. 16A through 16C. Then, an additionalinterlayer insulation layer 205 is formed on the existing structure.Next, lower layer first connect contacts 251 are formed on upperportions of the lower layer array lines 231, and second temporal connectcontacts 228 are formed on upper portions of the first temporal connectcontacts 229, by a patterning process.

Referring to FIG. 17B, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure. Then, lower layer word select lines301 are formed on upper portions of the lower layer first connectcontacts 251, and upper layer array lines 232 are formed on the upperportions of the second temporal connect contacts 228, by a patterningprocess.

Referring to FIG. 17C, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure, and then upper layer first connectcontacts 252 are formed on upper potions of the upper layer array lines232 by a patterning process.

Referring to FIG. 17D, an additional interlayer insulation layer 205 isformed on the existing structure, and then upper layer word select lines302 are formed on upper portions of the upper layer first connectcontacts 252 by a patterning process.

In this embodiment, the upper layer array lines 232 are formed on thefirst and second temporal connect contacts 229 and 228. The first andsecond temporal connect contacts 229 and 228 provide more space betweenthe upper layers 1 of the word lines 200 and the upper layer array lines232. Accordingly, the upper layers 1 of the word lines 200 are preventedfrom being over-etched when the upper layer array lines 232 are formed(i.e., when the etching process used to form the upper layer array linesis carried out).

As described above, according to an aspect of the inventive conceptthere is provided a highly integrated vertical memory device which keepsthe NOP to a minimum. Thus, a highly reliable vertical non-volatilememory device may be realized.

Finally, embodiments of the inventive concept have been described hereinin detail. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments described above. Rather, these embodiments were described sothat this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys theinventive concept to those skilled in the art. Thus, the true spirit andscope of the inventive concept is not limited by the embodimentsdescribed above but by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vertical non-volatile memory device comprising:a substrate; a plurality of groups of memory cell strings on thesubstrate, each of the memory cell strings comprising a plurality ofmemory transistors distributed in a vertical direction, substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the substrate, such that each of thememory cell strings extends vertically on the substrate, and arespective array of the memory transistors is disposed on each ofseveral layers above the substrate; stacks of integrated word lines onthe substrate, the integrated word lines being coupled to sets of thememory transistors, respectively, the memory transistors of each of saidsets being those memory transistors which constitute a respective oneonly of the groups of the memory cell strings and which are disposedwithin the same layer above the substrate, wherein for each array ofmemory transistors on a respective layer above the substrate, there area plurality of integrated word lines electrically isolated from eachother in the layer and connected to sets of the memory transistors,respectively; and a stack of layers each of which has a plurality ofcoplanar word select lines on the substrate, wherein plural ones of thecoplanar word select lines in each of the layers of the stack areconnected to plural ones of the integrated word lines, respectively,constituting a respective one of the stacks of integrated word lines. 2.The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 1, wherein the memorytransistors of each set are disposed in a matrix of rows and columns,the rows each extending in a direction substantially parallel to theplane of the substrate, the columns each extending in another directionsubstantially parallel to the plane of the substrate, wherein theintegrated word lines each comprise respective word lines and arespective array line the word lines constituting the integrated wordlines stacked one on the other, respectively, and constituting saidlines of conductive material, and each of the respective word lines ofan integrated word line being coupled to the memory transistors whichare located in the same column within the set, and the respective arrayline being connected to the respective word lines, and wherein the wordselect lines are respectively connected to the array lines, whereby eachof the word select lines is connected to the word lines constituting arespective one of the integrated word lines.
 3. The verticalnon-volatile memory device of claim 2, wherein the memory cell stringsare disposed on the substrate in a matrix of n rows and m columns, andthe number of groups of the memory cell strings is i, wherein each ofthe memory cell strings has k memory transistors distributed in thevertical direction, wherein the word select lines are disposed in amatrix of k columns by i files, the files being the number of layers ofcoplanar word select lines stacked in the vertical directionsubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate, wherein eachof the word select lines is connected a respective set of ‘a’ of therespective word lines, and wherein n, m, k, and i are integers equal toor greater than 2, ‘a’ is a natural number, i is smaller than k, and ‘a’is smaller than each of k and m.
 4. The vertical non-volatile memorydevice of claim 3, wherein ‘a’ is a natural number equal to m/i.
 5. Thevertical non-volatile memory device of claim 2, wherein the word lineswhich are coupled to the sets of memory transistors of each group ofmemory cell strings include respective sets of word lines, each of thesets of word lines having the form of a set of stairs on the substrate.6. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 2, furthercomprising first connect contacts extending in the vertical directionand respectively connecting the word select lines and the array lines,and wherein the integrated word lines further comprise second connectcontacts extending in the vertical direction and connecting each of thearray lines to the word lines of a respective one of said set of wordlines.
 7. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 1, whereinthe memory cell strings are disposed on the substrate in a matrix of nrows and m columns, and the number of groups of the memory cell stringsis i, wherein each of the memory cell strings has k memory transistorsdistributed in the vertical direction, wherein each of the integratedword lines is coupled to a respective set of memory transistors whichare located in the same layer and constitute one of the groups of thememory cell strings, wherein the word select lines are disposed in amatrix of k columns by i files, wherein the rows each extend in adirection substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate, thecolumns each extend in another direction substantially parallel to theplane of the substrate, and the files are the number of layers stackedin the vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the plane ofthe substrate, and wherein n, m, k, and i are integers equal to orgreater than 2, and i is smaller than each of k and m.
 8. The verticalnon-volatile memory device of claim 1, wherein the integrated word lineswhich are coupled to the sets of memory transistors of each group ofmemory cell strings have the form of a set of stairs on the substrate.9. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 8, furthercomprising first connect contacts extending in the vertical directionand respectively connecting the word select lines and integrated wordlines.
 10. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 1, whereineach of the word select lines disposed in one of the layers is disposeddirectly over a respective one of the word select lines in another ofthe layers above the substrate.
 11. The vertical non-volatile memorydevice of claim 1, wherein each group of cell strings consists of amatrix of rows of and columns of the cell strings.
 12. A verticalnon-volatile memory device comprising: a substrate; memory cell stringsdisposed in a matrix of n rows by m columns on a first region of thesubstrate, each of the memory cell strings comprising a number k ofmemory transistors distributed in a vertical direction, substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the substrate, such that each of thememory cell strings extends vertically on the substrate, and the memorytransistors of the memory cell strings being disposed such that arespective array of the memory transistors is disposed on each of knumbers of layers above the substrate; stacks of integrated word lineson the substrate, the integrated word lines being coupled to sets of thememory transistors, respectively, the memory transistors of each of saidsets being disposed in a matrix of the n rows by ‘a’ columns in thefirst region of the substrate; and word select lines connected to theintegrated word lines, respectively, the word select lines including aplurality of first word select lines disposed on a second region of thesubstrate, and a plurality of second word select lines disposed on athird region of the substrate, each of the first word select lines beingconnected to a respective one of the integrated word lines on the secondregion of the substrate, and the first word select lines being disposedin a matrix of k columns by j files such that plural ones of the firstword select lines in each of the j files thereof are connected to pluralones of the integrated word lines constituting a respective one of thestacks of integrated word lines, each of the second word select linesbeing connected to a respective one of the integrated word lines on thethird region of the substrate, and the second word select lines alsobeing disposed in a matrix of k columns by j files such that plural onesof the second word select lines in each of the j files thereof areconnected to plural ones of the integrated word lines constituting arespective one of the stacks of integrated word lines; and wherein therows each extend in a direction substantially parallel to the plane ofthe substrate, the columns each extend in another directionsubstantially parallel to the plane of the substrate, and the files arethe number of layers stacked in the vertical direction substantiallyperpendicular to the plane of the substrate, wherein the second regionof the substrate extends from one side of the first region in adirection parallel to the columns, and the third region of the substrateextends from the other side of the first region in a direction parallelto the columns such that the second and third regions are symmetricalabout the first region, and wherein n, m, k, and j denote naturalnumbers equal to or greater than 2, respectively, ‘a’ denotes a naturalnumber, j is smaller than k, and ‘a’ is smaller than each of k and m.13. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 12, wherein theintegrated word lines comprise: an array of m columns by k files ofrespective word lines, each of said respective word lines being coupledto the memory transistors of a respective one of said m columns, wherebyeach of the respective word lines is coupled to n respective memorytransistors; a plurality of first array lines disposed in a matrix of jcolumns by k rows on the second region of the substrate, and each of thefirst array lines being respectively connected to one of the respectiveword lines of each of ‘a’ columns of the respective word lines, wherebyeach of the first array lines is connected to ‘a’ respective ones of therespective word lines; and a plurality of second array lines disposed ina matrix j columns by k rows on the third region of the substrate, andeach of the second array lines being connected to one of the respectiveword lines of each of ‘a’ columns of the respective word lines, wherebyeach of the second array lines is connected to ‘a’ respective ones ofthe respective word lines; and wherein the first word select lines arerespectively coupled to the first array lines, and wherein the secondword select lines are respectively coupled to the second array lines.14. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim 13, wherein each ofthe m columns of respective word lines has the form of a set of stairson the substrate.
 15. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim12, wherein the integrated word lines are disposed in a matrix of 2*jcolumns by k files.
 16. The vertical non-volatile memory device of claim15, wherein each of the columns of the integrated word lines has theform of a set of stairs on the substrate.
 17. The vertical non-volatilememory device of claim 12, wherein ‘a’ is equal to 0.5*m/j.